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Online resource for wild swimmers being developed by University of the Highlands and Islands





Wild swimmers in Loch Morar in the west Highlands.
Wild swimmers in Loch Morar in the west Highlands.

The University of the Highlands and Islands is developing an online resource based on wild swimming locations around Scotland.

SwimWild, a company that offers open-water coaching, adventures and events, is working with Moray College UHI's computing and digital media department to create a portal where enthusiasts can find information about the safest places to take the plunge.

The resource will feature reviews of swimming locations, including advice on accessibility and difficulty.

The five-month project has received funding through the Scottish Government's innovation voucher scheme which supports collaboration between businesses and academia.

Alice Goodridge, the founder of SwimWild and an experienced long-distance swimmer and coach, said: "Wild swimming can have great mental and physical health benefits but can also be risky to those who are just starting out if they are not aware of how to do it safely.

"I am constantly being asked about safe swim locations and local swim groups as well as general safety information regarding swimming outdoors. I think a portal that can help people find the answers they are looking for and provide better access to location-based information about swim safety in Scotland is severely lacking at the moment."

Dr Malcolm Clark, a computing programme leader, researcher and lecturer, is leading the project at Moray College UHI.

He said: "Mental health and wellbeing has come to the forefront of our minds due to the pandemic and the subsequent recovery. We look forward to working with Alice to deliver this proof-of-concept platform to get people more active and involved in outdoor pursuits."

It is hoped the new resource will be launched by the start of 2022.

Open-water swimming has become a popular activity in Caithness over the past year with many people taking a dip in outdoor pools or lochs or at local beaches. Regular outdoor swimmers speak of the benefits to physical health and mental wellbeing.


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